John the Baptist was looking for the bona fide, the real McCoy. “And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus saying, ‘Art thou he that should come? Or look we for another?’ Then Jesus answering said unto them, ‘Go your way and tell John what things you have seen and hear; how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not offended in me’” (Luke 7:19-23 KJV). Jesus’ miracles were bona fide proof of Christ’s authenticity as the “one to come” – the prophesied Messiah.

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day asked him for a sign of his messiah-ship. They were not really sincere. Jesus had already performed numerous miracles. “The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came and tempting desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven. ‘A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign and there shall no sign be given unto it but the sign of the prophet Jonas’” (Matthew 15:1-4).

What was the sign of Jonah? Jesus declared, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40-42). Jonah was swallowed by a whale and spent three days and three nights in its belly before God caused the whale to spit him out on dry land. Jesus foretold how he would be crucified, die for the sins of the world, be buried, and on the third day arise from the dead. The resurrection proves that Jesus is the bona fide Christ – the Son of God. On another occasion, when the Jews asked for a sign, Jesus replied, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews thought that he meant the temple in Jerusalem. “But he spoke of the temple of his body” (John 2:19-21). The empty tomb verifies the deity of Christ.

Jesus is bona fide, the real McCoy, because his birth, passion, and manner of death fulfilled numerous ancient prophesies. For examples see Micah 5:2-4; Isaiah 52:11-53:53:1-12, and Psalm 22. Jesus’ heavenly Father validated him at his baptism and on the Mount of Transfiguration. John the Baptist saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove on Jesus with a voice from heaven that said, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17). (See also Matthew 17:1-5.)

When Jesus asked his disciples who men said he was they gave various answers. Jesus then asked them, “But whom say ye that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” How did Peter know? Jesus said, “For flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto you, but my Father in heaven” (Matthew 16:13-18). Like Peter, we need a revelation from God. If you sincerely seek, the Holy Spirit will reveal the bona fide Christ.

You can become a bona fide child of God. Jesus said that the people of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah. (See Matthew 12:40-41.) We must repent of our sins. (See Romans 3:23.) We must, by faith, receive Christ as our Savior and Lord. “For as many as received him gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them which believe on his name” (John 1:12).

Why don’t some believers live like a bona fide child of God? The devil is an identity thief. (See John 10:10.) Jesus called Peter a rock, even though he did not always live like a solid rock believer. Peter had to come to the knowledge of who he was in Christ. Peter’s identity was not in what he had done, but in the reality and truth of his position in Christ. (See Matthew 16:13-18.)

Many believers do not believe that they are bona fide children of God so they do not live like one. In a powerful book Victory Over the Darkness, Dr. Neil T. Anderson shows how we can have the power to be victorious by knowing who we are in Christ. “We don’t serve God to gain acceptance; we are accepted so we serve God. We don’t follow Him to be loved; we are loved so we follow Him.” That is a life changing statement.

Jesus Christ is bona fide – the real McCoy. Put your trust in Him. Be real!